Corner unit ventilator

ABSTRACT

An improved school room ventilator of the type having a cabinet to be positioned against an outside wall of the room, the cabinet having an inlet port, an outlet port and containing a fan, the inlet port for drawing fresh air through a duct in the outside wall, through the inlet port to the fan and then through the outlet port into the room, the ventilator optionally containing means for heating and/or cooling the air and/or means for recycling air from the room through the ventilator and then back into the room. The improvement of the instant invention relates to the cabinet of the ventilator, the cabinet being a corner cabinet so that the ventilator can be positioned in a corner of the room.

BACKGROUND

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/636,621 filed Dec. 16, 2004.

The instant invention is in the field of heating and/or cooling ventilation systems for buildings. More specifically, the instant invention is in the field of heating and/or cooling systems for buildings contained as a unit in a cabinet.

Prior art unit ventilators consist of a box shaped cabinet to be positioned against an outside wall of a room of a building, the cabinet having an inlet port, an outlet port and containing a fan, the inlet port for drawing fresh air through a duct in the outside wall, through the inlet port to the fan and then through the outlet port into the room, the ventilator optionally containing means for heating and/or cooling the air and/or means for recycling air from the room through the ventilator and then back into the room. Prior art unit ventilators are usually positioned under a widow and are often used in school classrooms.

Despite the widespread use of unit ventilators, such ventilators suffer from a number of problems. For example, the relatively low position of the air outlet causes uncomfortable drafts in the room. And, the cabinet of the ventilator intrudes into the room and usually reduces the useful floor space of the room. Such problems are especially troublesome in school classrooms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention solves, to a large degree, the above-stated problems with prior art ventilators. The instant invention is a ventilator suitable for use in a school classroom for ventilating the classroom with outside fresh air, comprising: a corner cabinet so that the corner cabinet can be positioned in a corner of a room, the cabinet containing a fan, the fan in communication with a fresh air port and with an outlet port so that outside fresh air can be ducted into the fresh air port and then through the outlet port into the room.

The instant invention is also an improved room ventilator of the type having a cabinet to be positioned against an outside wall of the room, the cabinet having an inlet port, an outlet port and containing a fan, the inlet port for drawing fresh air through a duct in the outside wall, through the inlet port to the fan and then through the outlet port into the room, the ventilator optionally containing means for heating and/or cooling the air and/or means for recycling air from the room through the ventilator and then back into the room, wherein the improvement comprises: the cabinet being a corner cabinet so that the ventilator can be positioned in a corner of the room.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a preferred embodiment of the instant invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, therein is shown a perspective front view of a preferred ventilator 10 according to the instant invention. The ventilator 10 includes a corner cabinet 11 preferably made of stainless steel sheet metal. A corner cabinet can be positioned in a corner of a room so that it is less intrusive of the useful floor space of the room. In addition a corner cabinet can be made taller so that the air outlet can be positioned higher to reduce annoying drafts in the room.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the cabinet contains a fan, the fan in communication with a fresh air port on one of the back sides of the cabinet and with outlet ports 12 so that outside fresh air can be ducted into the fresh air port and then through the outlet ports 12 into the room. The fan is preferably a plenum style plug fan for even air distribution and quiet operation. The ventilator 10 optionally containing means for heating and/or cooling the air. The means for heating the air can be electric resistance, heat pump, fuel burning, steam or hot water. The means for cooling the air can be a heat pump or a chiller. When the means for cooling the air is a compressor/refrigeration system, then preferably the refrigerant is a “green” (reduced ozone depletion) refrigerant. When the means for cooling the air is a compressor/refrigeration system, then the rear of the cabinet 10 is provided with a condenser air inlet port and a condenser air outlet port, which ports generally connect to ducts through the wall to the outside air. The ventilator 10 also has a recycle air port 13 for recycling all or a portion of the air from the room through the ventilator and then back into the room. The ventilator 10 can also incorporate an energy recovery system so that room air can be exhausted through the wall with its heat (or cold) transferred to fresh air ducted into the ventilator 10. Of course, the ventilator 10 preferably incorporates a filter(s). Access doors or panels 14 are provided for access into the cabinet 11.

Referring still to FIG. 1, a liquid crystal display television/computer monitor screen 15 and speakers 16 are provided for additional utility of the ventilator 10. Controls 17 are provided for operation of the ventilator 10 and include fan speed, temperature, humidity, etc. The ventilator 10 can optionally contain an imbedded web interface connected to a Local Area Network (LAN) so that a building engineer can monitor, trend, and/or schedule any controlled function of the ventilator 10, and so that a teacher in the classroom can control the ventilator 10 by way of her desktop computer.

The outlet ports 12 can be replaced with an outlet port 12 a at the top of the cabinet 12 if it is desired to direct the outlet air from the ventilator 10 to an air duct system. Preferably, the inlet and outlet ports when positioned on the back of the cabinet 11 are provided as “knock-out” ports in both back sides of the cabinet 11 so that the ventilator 10 can be placed in either corner of the room as desired by knocking out the appropriate port.

In conclusion, while the instant invention has been described above according to its preferred embodiments, it can be modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the instant invention using the general principles disclosed herein. Thus, the instant application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the following claims. 

1. A ventilator suitable for use in a school classroom for ventilating the classroom with outside fresh air, comprising: a corner cabinet so that the corner cabinet can be positioned in a corner of a room, the cabinet containing a fan, the fan in communication with a fresh air port and with an outlet port so that outside fresh air can be ducted into the fresh air port and then through the outlet port into the room.
 2. The ventilator of claim 1, further comprising means for cooling the outside fresh air.
 3. The ventilator of claim 1, further comprising means for heating the outside fresh air.
 4. The ventilator of claim 1, further comprising means for heating and cooling the outside fresh air.
 5. The ventilator of any of claims 1-4, further comprising a recycle air port in communication with the fan so that air in the room can be recycled, heated and/or cooled.
 6. An improved room ventilator of the type having a cabinet to be positioned against an outside wall of the room, the cabinet having an inlet port, an outlet port and containing a fan, the inlet port for drawing fresh air through a duct in the outside wall, through the inlet port to the fan and then through the outlet port into the room, the ventilator optionally containing means for heating and/or cooling the air and/or means for recycling air from the room through the ventilator and then back into the room, wherein the improvement comprises: the cabinet being a corner cabinet so that the ventilator can be positioned in a corner of the room. 